Aristolochia manshuriensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hocquartia manshuriensis
• Isotrema manshuriensis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Piperales, it is further organized into the family Aristolochiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Aristolochia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad and varied geographical distribution across several key Asian regions. In the Russian Far East, its presence is specifically noted within the Primorye territory. Moving into China, the species is widely spread throughout the Manchuria region. Its range further extends into the central parts of the country, covering both North-Central and South-Central China. Additionally, the plant can be found inhabiting the diverse landscapes of Southeast China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aristolochia manshuriensis is characterized by its preference for diverse montane environments, where it typically thrives within forests, forest edges, and mountainous terrains. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, colonizing habitats ranging from low-lying areas at 100 m AMSL to high-altitude zones reaching up to 2200 m AMSL. Across its natural range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1150 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptation to the specific moisture and light conditions found within temperate forest ecosystems and their transitional margins.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1150 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, mountains

Life history

The life history of Aristolochia manshuriensis is characterized by its status as a perennial herb, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it does not complete its life cycle in a single year like annuals or two years like biennials; instead, it establishes a robust root system that supports continuous vegetative growth and seasonal regeneration. This long-lived life strategy enables the plant to invest significant energy into structural development and reproductive stability, often allowing it to occupy specific ecological niches within its habitat over many years. Through its perennial lifecycle, the plant can withstand seasonal fluctuations, emerging from dormancy to produce foliage and flowers during favorable periods, thereby ensuring long-term survival and consistent reproductive potential within its ecosystem.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aristolochia manshuriensis is characterized by its growth habit as a facultative climber, meaning it can function as a self-supporting plant or climb upon surrounding vegetation for structural support. This perennial herb exhibits a woody nature, developing a substantial and durable structural framework as it matures. Its climbing mechanism allows it to navigate complex forest environments, utilizing its woody stems to ascend towards light sources.

Climber :

facultative

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aristolochia manshuriensis is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework, most notably defined by its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. As a C3 plant, it fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle, utilizing the enzyme RuBisCO to catalyze the initial carboxylation of CO2 into a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate. This process is typical of many shade-tolerant or temperate forest understory species, allowing the plant to optimize light harvesting and carbon assimilation in environments where water loss via transpiration is managed through standard stomatal regulation. Beyond its carbon fixation strategy, the physiological profile of this species involves complex secondary metabolism, specifically the biosynthesis of nitrogenous alkaloids and aristolochic acids, which serve as critical chemical defense mechanisms against herbivory and microbial pathogens. The plant's resource allocation is further governed by its growth patterns, where physiological energy is directed toward the development of specialized climbing structures and reproductive organs, ensuring survival and propagation within its specific ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aristolochia manshuriensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, root.

Stem

1. Journal of natural products
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Root

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Aristolochia manshuriensis has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aristolochic acid, Aristolochic acid A, Aristolochic acids, Aristolactone, Aristolochic acid I.

Aristolochic acid

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
2. PloS one

Aristolochic acid A

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Frontiers in plant science

Aristolochic acids

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Planta medica

Aristolactone

1. Planta medica

Aristolochic acid I

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Aristolochic acid II

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Aristolochic acid Iva

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

DEMETHYLARISTOFOLIN E

1. Journal of natural products

aristomanoside

1. Journal of natural products

dehydrooxoperezinone

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Aristolochia manshuriensis has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Nephrotoxic, Carcinogenic.

Nephrotoxic

1. Planta medica
2. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Carcinogenic

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Aristolochia manshuriensis has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include arthritis, breast diseases, hepatitis, liver cancer, obesity.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations